Muswellbrook Shire Council is committed to protecting your personal information. This Statement outlines Council’s practices relating to personal information obtained through access to its website. This statement is provided in accordance with the “Guidelines for Government Websites” issued by the Australian Privacy Commissioner.

Council has adopted a Privacy Management Plan in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (the Privacy Act). It is recommended that you read the Privacy Management Plan prior to submitting any personal information to us. Muswellbrook Shire Council respects and protects the privacy of users.

Collecting information about you from the website

Council will only collect personal information directly from you, or your authorised agent. The information collected will be for lawful purposes directly related to the functions of Council.

Council will only request information that is necessary for the purpose of the collection.  If you do not wish to provide personal information to Council, it may be unable to provide you with the services required. In accordance with the Privacy Act you can make application for Council to consider suppressing your personal information from a public register held by Council.

Statistical Information

If you visit Council’s website to read or download information, the following information will be recorded for statistical purposes:

• Your server’s address
• The name of the top level domain from which you access the Internet (for example, .gov,
  .com, .edu, .org, .au, .nz etc).
• The type of browser you use
• The date and time you accessed our site
• The pages you accessed and the documents downloaded
• The previous Internet address from which you linked directly to our site
• The Internet address to which you link directly from our site

The above information is used to create summary statistics which allow us to assess the number of visitors to the different sections of our site, discover what information is most and least used, determine technical design specifications, and help us make our site more useful to visitors.

How Will We Use Your Personal Information

• Council will use your information for the purpose for which it was collected.
• Council will use your information to understand community and customer needs to continuously improve our services.
• Council may use your information to let you know about services or other information available. (eg Newsletters)
• Council may share your information within other sections of Council, its agents and contractors to expedite services to its customers. The provisions of the Privacy Act bind council’s agents and contractors.

Disclosure of Your Personal Information

Council will only disclose your personal information if:

• You have consented to the disclosure.
• The disclosure is required or permitted by legislation.
• Where it is necessary to lessen a threat to someone’s life or health.

Accuracy of Your Personal Information

Council will take reasonable care to ensure that the personal information it collects, uses or discloses is accurate, complete and up to date.

Storage and Security of Your Personal Information

Council will take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information it holds from misuse, unauthorised access and modification.

How to Access, Correct or Update Your Personal Information

If you want to know exactly what personal information the Council is holding about you, you are welcome to request such information by contacting Council’s Privacy Officer.

You can apply to Council to amend your personal information to ensure it is relevant, up to date and complete and not misleading.

How We Dispose of Your Personal Information

Council will dispose of your personal information in accordance with the State Records GA-39 General Retention and Disposal Authority for Local Government Records (GA39).

Other Important Information

Cookies
Council tracks the pattern of visitor usage using a facility called a cookie. This cookie identifies and recognises the computer (but not the person using the computer) when you visit Council’s website.
Cookies are pieces of information that a website can transfer to an individual’s computer hard drive for record keeping.
The use of cookies is an industry standard and you will find most major websites use them.  Most Internet browsers are pre-set to accept cookies. If you prefer not to receive cookies, you can adjust your Internet browser to disable cookies or to warn you when cookies are being used.

Links to other websites
Council’s website contains links to other websites. These linked sites are not under the control of Council. Council is not responsible for the management or protection of any personal information you provide to these sites.

Before disclosing your personal information on any other website, the Council recommends you examine the terms and conditions of using their website.

Children’s Privacy
Council will take all reasonable steps to protect the privacy of children.

Council asks that children under the age of 18 have a parent or guardian submit personal information on their behalf when required.

Changes to this Statement
Council will occasionally update this Privacy Statement. When it is update Council will revise the “last updated” date at the top of the statement.

How to Contact Us
If you have any questions please email us or telephone Council’s Privacy Officer on 02 6549 3700. Other information can be obtained from Privacy NSW.

Privacy and Development Applications

Council will only collect personal information for a lawful purpose which directly relates to our functions or activities as a NSW Local Government agency and for obtaining feedback about our services. The Council will not collect any more information than is necessary for it to fulfil these functions.

The Council will not disclose your personal information to anyone without your consent, unless legally required to do so.

Anyone engaged to collect, store or use personal information for the Council will be required to comply with the PPIP Act and the Council’s Privacy Management Plan.

What is personal information?

Your personal information relates to you personally and includes any information or opinion made about you. Personal information includes your name, address, phone number, email address or any information from which your identity can be reasonably ascertained.

Personal information is information that identifies you, some examples include:

• a written record which may include your name, address, and other details about you;
• electronic records, photographs, images, video or audio footage; and
• biometric information such as fingerprints, blood and records of genetic material.

What is not personal information?

The PPIP Act excludes certain information from the definition of personal information. The exemptions include:

• information contained in publicly available publications;
• information about a person’s suitability for public sector employment;
• information about people who have been dead for more than 30 years;
• a number of exemptions relating to law enforcement investigations; and
• matters contained in Cabinet documents.

Development Applications

When you submit a development application to the Council we collect your personal information, including:

• name (including title)
• address
• email (if provided)
• internet protocol (IP) address (if the submission is made online) and
• any other personal information contained in your application.

You are under no obligation to provide Council with personal information, except as otherwise required by law.

How will your personal information be used when you submit a development application?

Council will publish development applications and associated documents on its official website and other online platforms. Personal information contained within a development application may be published online including an applicant’s name, address, email and telephone number.

We will use your contact details to correspond with you throughout the development application assessment process.

We may forward your development application, including personal information, to the Regional Planning Panel if the application has been referred to them.

Right of access to amend your personal information

Under the PPIP Act you have the right to access your personal information held by the Council without excessive delay or expense. You also have the right to have your personal information corrected in certain circumstances (e.g. if it is incorrect). Should you wish to access or correct your personal information contact the Council’s privacy officer at:

Attention: Privacy Officer
Muswellbrook Shire Council

Campbell’s Corner, 60-82 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook, NSW, 2333
Phone: 02 6549 3700
Email: council@muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au

Complaints

If you feel there has been a breach of your privacy under the PPIP Act, you have the right to make a complaint to the Council or to the NSW Privacy Commissioner, www.ipc.nsw.gov.au.

Contact the Department

If you have any questions about the application of the Council’s privacy policy please contact:

Attention: Privacy Officer
Muswellbrook Shire Council

Campbell’s Corner, 60-82 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook, NSW, 2333
Phone: 02 6549 3700
Email: council@muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au